Rovers keen on Irish duo

04 Aug 2010 15:31:26

Doncaster are interested in signing Crusaders duo Colin Coates and Jordan Owens, according to the Irish club's chairman Stephen Bell.Northern Ireland international defender Coates has turned down a trial with the Championship club, while he and striker Owens are also attracting attention from Tranmere.Rovers' assistant manager Richard O'Kelly watched the duo on Monday night in a friendly against St Mirren, though Bell is hopeful the speculation will come to nothing."Richard O'Kelly spoke to me briefly but we will have to wait and see if anything happens," Bell told the News Letter. "Colin Coates is 24, an international and as far as we are concerned beyond a trial."Owens is young and probably keen to go on trial, but with the season about to start it could be difficult. I would be concerned about him going and getting injured."But we are in a similar situation to last season when Leeds came in (for Coates) and nothing came of it and the players are not getting their hopes up."